Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration Phase II
Through this appropriation, The Nature Conservancy and Minnesota Land Trust protected 2,135 acres through fee acquisition and conservation easements. This includes over 7 miles of stream frontage. Three new Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) were created around the fee acquisitions, opening up 1,505 acres of habitat to public recreation. Restoration or enhancement work was completed on 225 acres of bluff prairies and forests, much of it on lands protected through this program.
In it's proposal, this project identified three primary components: 1) fee title acquisition of priority parcels, 2) restoration and enhancement of prairie and forest habitat in important complexes of protected habitat, and 3) the strategic protection of high-quality habitat on private lands through the acquisition of conservation easements. Work done using this appropriation accomplished all three of those objectives.
The Nature Conservancy used funds from this appropriation in acquiring 1,505 acres of land in fee from three landowners. These acquisition have all been transferred to the MN DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, creating three new management units know as 7 Springs, Rush Creek Woods, and Choice Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This new public land protects over 7 miles of trout stream frontage, along with important forest and bluff prairie habitat. TNC worked closely with DNR Wildlife in prioritizing and acquiring all three of these units, and performing important restoration and enhancement work after acquisition. The size and cost of these acquisitions and the time frames provided by the sellers, it was necessary for the Conservancy to use $2,106,000 of private funds to complete the largest acquisition.
Restoration and enhancement through this appropriation focused primarily on projects on acquired tracts, where TNC restored 44 acres of forest and enhanced 100 acres of forest and 81 acres of prairie. TNC worked with DNR staff, Conservation Corps MN, and local contractors to remove encroaching brush from large bluff prairies and oak savanna on Choice and Rush Creek Woods WMAs. We also treated invasive species in fire-dependent oak woods surrounding prairie areas, allowing prescribed fire in the future to manage larger areas and maintain the diverse transition zone that includes prairie, savanna and oak forest. One burn has already occurred at Rush Creek Woods, and another is planned for Choice WMA this spring to follow up on these enhancement projects. Several floodplain crop fields included on Choice WMA were restored to mesic hardwood forests. These fields were planted through direct seeding in order to provide the best chance of having sufficient seedlings survive the expected impacts of deer browsing.
The Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) used funds from this appropriation to acquire conservation easements from three landowners, totaling 630 acres. These protected acres include dry bluff prairie, oak savanna and woodlands, and mesic hardwood forests. A mile and a half of undeveloped shoreline was also protected along designated trout streams and tributaries. One easement in particular, East Indian Creek, was the key final piece to solidifying a protected corridor running from McCarthy WMA all the way through to Whitewater WMA, linking together over 28,000 acres of protected land.
MLT strategically concentrated its land protection activities on high priority upland habitats, including bluff prairies, forests, savanna and high quality trout streams. MLT targeted private lands that helped fill gaps in the existing protected land framework, contained the highest-quality habitat, and provided the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust sought donated easement value in these areas whenever possible but purchased easements that help complete key complexes as necessary. This was the first grant in Southeast Minnesota where MLT transitioned to a competitive, market-based approach to identifying and securing conservation easements. This approach proved to be effective, leveraging $138,800, or 14% of MLT's total appropriation.
Working closely with partners was key to the success of this program. Both TNC and MLT worked with other local stakeholders including Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), DNR staff from multiple agencies, local contractors, and landowners in identifying opportunities, prioritizing projects, and completing them effectively. The collaboration built through this effort continues to benefit ongoing work funded through LSOHC and helps inform other conservation initiatives, such as local water planning and habitat monitoring carried out by other entities. TNC and MLT are committed to staying engaged in Southeast Minnesota and continuing the successful work of this partnership.
$5,770,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; to acquire land in fee for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5; to acquire land in fee for state forest purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7; for permanent conservation easements; and to restore and enhance habitat on publicly protected lands as follows: $4,800,000 to The Nature Conservancy; and $970,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $160,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Lands acquired or lands with easements acquired with this appropriation may not be used foremergency haying and grazing in response to federal or state disaster declarations. Conservation grazing under a management plan that is already being implemented may continue. A list of proposed acquisitions, permanent conservation easements, and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Protected in fee with state PILT liability 1423 acres, 630 acres protected in easement, 6 acres enhanced, for a total of 2,059 acres.
Private